Daily Reading: 9-19-16
Acts 4:1-12 The Living Bible (TLB)
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, so they were very upset with Peter and John’s message about Christ and how God raised him. These religious leaders set up a council to question John and Peter. Interestingly, Peter turns the table at the inquiry and he uses this session with the council as a way to share the gospel about the Messiah. Because of Jesus, all of humanity is offered a relationship with God.
Acts 4:1-12
4 While they were talking to the people, the chief priests, the captain of the Temple police, and some of the Sadducees[a] came over to them, 2 very disturbed that Peter and John were claiming that Jesus had risen from the dead. 3 They arrested them and since it was already evening, jailed them overnight. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so that the number of believers now reached a new high of about five thousand men!
5 The next day it happened that the Council of all the Jewish leaders was in session in Jerusalem— 6 Annas the High Priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others of the High Priest’s relatives. 7 So the two disciples were brought in before them.
“By what power, or by whose authority have you done this?” the Council demanded.
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Honorable leaders and elders of our nation, 9 if you mean the good deed done to the cripple, and how he was healed, 10 let me clearly state to you and to all the people of Israel that it was done in the name and power of Jesus from Nazareth, the Messiah, the man you crucified—but God raised back to life again. It is by his authority that this man stands here healed! 11 For Jesus the Messiah is (the one referred to in the Scriptures when they speak of ) a ‘stone discarded by the builders which became the capstone of the arch.’[b] 12 There is salvation in no one else! Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many wonderful deeds you have done in my life. You have healed me in so many ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.